Of all the products I’ve had the opportunity to review/have hands-on time with, one thing I’ve been interested in dabbling in are headphones - more specifically A2DP-style. Gemsen, a leader in automotive sound accessories, have a sub-brand called Novero, which specializes in all things Bluetooth, heard my cries and decided to send me two of their more popular units: The Rockaway earbuds (seen above and focus on in this review) and the Rockdale DJ-style headphones (write-up to follow).

Read on to find out impressions on the Rockaway earbuds.

In my opinion, the earbuds are focused more on the athletic, fast-moving type; people who prefer light convenience over the bulk of big headphones. And as hard as I try, I am no athlete. So, rather than be selfish, I gave them to a friend of mine who is an active runner and fitness buff to get his two cents, so here goes.

(typed out as he answered questions asked)

Design:

Light weight, fit well in-ear over long periods of time, the flat cables are connected to the headphones with durability and were able to withstand most types of wear and tear during intense workout sessions. This also goes for the remote control attached; it was stable, present, and reliable.

The Sound:

Honestly, it surprised me. Bluetooth earbuds are dime-a-dozen, and I’m sceptical of the marketing behind them. Given the physical design of the Rockaway, the audio came out crisp and clear - especially the bass -through most conditions. What impressed me most about the sound was that there was little to no interruption cause by the Bluetooth connectivity - something that has become quite the industry norm.

I used the Rockaway earbuds with my HTC One X, yes the phone with Beats integration, and the sound just killed it.

Battery Life:

Average to say the least. I was able to get through a few workouts before they died on me and I did not get the 5.5 hours that Novero states that I should have.

Call Quality:

Being Bluetooth headphones, the Rockaway does calls, but the quality is all situational-based. In my office, in a quiet setting, they were perfect; as is expected. Whereas when I took calls on the road, often calls were crackling and distorted; this could be attributed to the lack of noise-cancellation.

Overall:

For $99.00 you can’t really go wrong, considering what you’re buying. They’re worth the investment if you’re looking for a convenient and easy to use listening experience on the go.

You can pick up the Novero Rockaway earbuds here

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